Fuse for projectiles



Jan. 18 1927, 1,614,536

B.- PANTOFLI CEEK FUSE FOR PROJECTILES Filed June 1. 1925 Patented Jan.18, 1927.

UNITED res BOHIDAN rAN'rorLr'cEK, or LOCHOTIN, PILSEN, ozEcHosLovAxIA.

FUSE FOR PROJEGTILES.

Application filed June 1, 1925 Serial No. 34,246, and in CzechoslovakiaJune 9, 1924.

plosives, powder or the like, with which they are filled. Through thesegases, which develop if moisture gets into the charge of the projectileor from the charge itself, or

through the moisture alone the component parts of the fuse are exposedto chemical action and, when stored for some time, are damaged to suchan extent that their functioning is made very uncertain or quiteimpossible. Even the presence of a single detonator or of the smallestquantity of explosive or powder in the fuse is sufficient to causedamage to the component parts of the fuse, which, as is known, are inthe main -fine mechanical parts. Hence it is impossible to preserve thefuses for any considerable time. The present invention relates ,to afuse, in which all the above-mentioned drawbacks of fuses as hithertomade areovercome, The invention'consists substantially in this that thefuse is so constructed as to contain no explosives or detonatorswhatever, but only mechanical parts. A fuse of such construction can bestored and transported as a complete unit entirely separate from theprojectile proper and be completely protected from moisture. Forensuringthe exclusion of moisture air-tight'containers may for instance be used.In projectiles provided with fuses constructed in this manner all theexplosives and detonators are housed in the projectile proper or in aseparate casing.

For protecting the explosive of the projectile, the detonator and thelike from the ac tion of moisture or from mechanical influences theprojectile is closed with a separate air-tight cover or closing plate,which is removed before the fuse proper is screwed into the projectile.On the fuse proper being screwed in, the needle, which is acted on by aspring, centrifugal force or the like, comes in front of the detonatorof the projectile itself, in order that the latter may be caused toexplode at the required moment.

For providing absolute safety, when mounting the fuse or for thedetonator, a separate closure is provided between the needle of the fuseand the detonator of the projectile, which protects the detonator fromthe needle or from external action, when the fuse is not screwed on.This separate closure is opened or displaced only at the moment offiring by centrifugal or some other suit- .to the needle 16.

able force, for giving the needle free access to the detonator. Theclosure may also be opened or displaced by the shock at the moment offiring or by a separate partof the actual mechanical fuse travellingthrough a certain path in the fuse. The closure may either be located inthe actual fuse part of the mechanical fuse or preferably directly inthe projectile or casing, in which the dotonator is located, in whichlatter two cases,

as already stated, the detonator is also protected from externalmechanical influences. In the fuse according to the presentinvention theneedle is visible, easily accessible and therefore capable of beinginspected.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 shows a projectile, which is puttogether ready for use, Figure 2 the unscrewed mewhich contains anysuitable known mechanism for releasing the needle after a predeterminedperiod of time or at the moment of impact. This fuse 1 :is screwed :bymeans of the thread '2 into the intermediate part 3. Into thisintermediate part3 aholder '5 .is screwed, in which the detonator 4 isheld in its .correct position ,by a further plug 7. The holder 5 alsocarries the booster 8, which extends into the bursting charge 9 of theprojectile 10. The intermediate part 3 is connected by means of a thread11 with the actual body 10 of the projectile. Between the thread 2and'the, holder 5 a further filler member 12 is provided, which has aslot 13 on one of its sides, in which a small plate 14 can moveradially. The plate 14, when in its position of rest, covers the passage15, through which the needle 16 of the mechanical fuse causes thedetonator 4 and the projectile to explode. On the projectile beingfired, the small plate 14 is displaced radially by centrifugal force, sothat the passage 17 comes into alinement with the passage 15, thusgiving a free path Instead of the plate 14 being displaced bycentrifugal force, it can be displaced by a spring or-some other force,which acts at the moment of firing. The constructional form shown withthe movable plate 14 is only one of the many possible ways'of protectingthe detonator from undesirable infiuences and will therefore be referredto below only as the closure.

In order that it may not be necessary to use a separate screwed-inintermediate part 3 containing the closure for the detonator and thedetonatorand exploder, the body 10 of the projectile may be extended soas to receive the whole mechanism, which is otherwise contained in theintermediate part.

In order that the projectile may be stored without moistureor otherdetrimental gases damaging the fuse mechanism, the mechanical fuse l'isunscrewed (Fig. 2) and is enclosed in an air-tight container.

The projectile itself is closed at the end which is open, when the fuseis screwed ofi, in an air-tight manner by means of a separate cover. Thecover may also be a screw,

which is screwed into the exposed opening. 7

In Fig; 3 an air-tight cover 18 is shown.

What I claim is r l. The combination of a projectile with a mechanicalfuse, the fuse proper containing only the mechanically acting parts ofthe fuse, a' part intermediate of the projectile and the fuse, saidintermediate part being screwed into the projectile and being formedwith aninternally screw threaded cavity into which the fuse is screwed,a separate releasable closure in the intermediate part between theneedle of the mechanical fuse and the detonator, a holder member capableof being screwed into the internally screw threaded cavity in theintermediate part and of containing the detonator, and a plug (7) forholding the detonator in the holder (5) fixedly in alignment with'theneedle,as set forth. 7

2. The'combination of a projectile with a mechanical fuse, the fuseproper containing only the mechanically acting partsof the holding thedeto-nator in the holder (5) fixed-l ly in alignment with the needle,and a filler member (12) capable of being screwed into the internallyscrew threaded cavity in theintermediate part above the detonator and ofcontaining the separate closure, as set forth.

I 3. The combination of a projectile with a mechanical fuse, the fuseproper containing only the mechanically acting parts of the fuse, a partintermediate of the projectile and the fuse, into which the fuse isscrewed and which part is screwed into the projectile, a separatereleasable closure in the intermediate pa'rt between the needle of themechanical fuse and the detonator, a holder (5) capable of being screwedinto the intermediate part and of containing the detonator, a plug (7)for holding the detonator in the holder (5), and a filler member (12)capable of being screwed into the intermediatepartr above the detonatorand containing a recess on one slde 1n which the closure can moveradially, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BOHDAN (PANTOFLTCEKQ

